Blood Money (1) | The Inheritance Games

XXIII. false god

"We might just get away with it, the altar is my hips. Even if it's a false god we'd still worship this love."

Noah.

When Spencer called me yesterday as I was cleaning the burn on my back with rubbing alcohol, I could tell she was starting to get suspicious, but I discarded her concerns and convinced her everything was fine.

The following morning I picked her up and she informed me of my sister's drug dealing. I knew about it. But I had to act like I was confused and mad. Of course, I was all of those things at first, but most of all I was understanding having known what she was doing it for.

Maja had told me everything the second she got back from Spencer's, knowing she had to tell me so I could see the whole picture - the picture that Spencer only sees half of.

My twin and I have been saving up for years now. Dad might have all the money the world could ask for, but he'd never give us any if he knew why we needed it. We're planning on running away, we have been for years. Though it seems more like a fantasy than a plan these days.

Maja has been selling drugs to make money. It's not something I condone but it's something I can reason with. She swore she wouldn't sell again and we've agreed to make the money other ways.

To my surprise, Maja also informed me last night that she had told Jameson everything. When asked why, all she said was 'because he asked'. I don't know what encouraged either of them to be close after having never spoken to each other, but if you ask me, there's something else going on there.

We never told anyone we were getting hit except Xander. He's sworn to never tell anyone for this long. Could telling Jameson ruin that? Sure he's my girlfriend's brother but I don't trust that he won't spill something to her. And I adore Spencer but I know as well as the next person that if she ever found out, she would literally try to kill my Father herself.

But from what I've heard, Jameson took the drugs from Spencer. Everything since that is yet to be revealed to me.

The phone call flashback - third person narrative.

"Maja?" The middle Hawthorne sibling wasted no time with pleasantries. "Hawthorne?" The Thatcher twin replied, her voice soft and innocent.

"Why are you dealing?" Jameson was quick to start the topic, no need to ease into it and dodge the issue. "Spencer told you?" Maja sighed in defeat.

"Maj.." The boy spoke fondly.

"It's nothing bad.. it's just made me a lot of money." The girl confessed.

"You need money?" Jameson jumped in. "It's fine." She denied.

"Maj if you need money you know you could have told me." His voice was calm and sweet as opposed to his original hard one.

"I don't. Just forget it." She raised her voice.

"Why do you need it?" He tried to be respectful and patient but truth be told it was killing him.

"Noah and I need to run away.. I know it sounds stupid and childish-" The girl stressed.

"Why do you need to run away?" He didn't mock her for what she had said, he took her words deadly serious.

"I can't tell you.." She trails off.

"Maja you can tell me anything." Jameson promised.

"My Dad." Is all she had to say.

"He hurting you?" The boy asked firmly, he'd tried to conceal it but his jaw was clenched and his fists balled.